A Blocker of Internet as a Clean Reformist?

 Tedla Asfaw

Dear Ethiomedia Editor,
After the brutal beating of Semayawi Party members and supporters this past Saturday reading about Woyane “Reformist” in your editorial note today http://www.ethiomedia.com/2013report/4660.html
is a big insult to many Ethiopians. It seems to me a preemptive action not to condemn Woyane because there are “reformists” like Debretsion, the enemy of free speech known for blocking Internet in Ethiopia.
Debretsion and even those who are telling us they opposed Woyane the likes of Seye, Asgede etc still believe that Woyane should be “reformed” with the help of the reformists not be replaced by an elected representative of the Ethiopian people.
Talk of “split” within TPLF and statement the one you made today are used by the regime as distraction from the popular upheaval brewing under. Debretsion and all his buddies are worried about their power and stolen wealth.
I still remember Seye a year ago on BBC after the death of Meles saying that “They need to keep the development made on the last two decades”. Whose development ? Weyane connected within and out posing themselves as “opponents of Woyane” do not want popular change at all.
Debretsion a “clean” man you suggested has benefited from EFFORT so does Seye Abraha. That is why they want to keep this loot for future bargaining.
There are no so called reformists within or out of TPLF. Once you are Woyane you will live and die as Woyane.

O Lord! O Allah!

by T.Goshu
Let me make clear first that the very purpose of selecting this very deep and powerful religious supplication as a topic of my comment is neither to preach on a sermon nor to provoke theological discussion. This is not only because I sincerely believe that it is not appropriate for me to mess with this kind of subject, but I also must honestly be clear that I am not the right person to deal with this subject both in terms of knowledge and capacity.
Therefore, the very purpose of this piece of writing of mine is to reflect my opinion about the un-holy partnership or alliance between some “religious leaders” and a bunch of politicians in power in our country; and to express my concern about how the consequence of this unholy cronyism is getting worse, and how it should be dealt with.
For the sake clarity, I want to make a couple of points on the principle of the separation of state and religion enshrined in secular constitutions, including ours. To my understanding, this principle does mean that the two should not intervene in the powers/authorities, responsibilities and duties given by their respective covenants, laws and rules that are regulated by their own respective set up of systems. In other words, as long as their core purposes, functions and services are different (secular and spiritual), it is not acceptable to mess with each other’s core missions and functions. And this principle of course requires the existence of appropriate and well- balanced way of exercising full rights on the one hand, and  discharging due responsibilities on the other hand. It is this very critically desirable balancing of the situation that is missing in our case. And it goes without saying that the very root cause for this is the ruling circle that cannot afford to maintain its power without manipulating and exploiting this and all other undesirable situations.
But on the other side of the story, it is terribly wrong to interpret the principle of the separation of state and religion as if they have nothing to share at all. I do not know for what else religion stands for if it does not stand against the deprivation or violation of civil liberty and human dignity. I truly believe that Jesus Christ has shown us how standing against the powers of oppression, hatred, dehumanization or gross violation of God-given rights requires paying an ultimate sacrifice. I also do believe that the very message and mission of Islam through Prophet Muhammad is not different as far as the very core values of the two religions (freedom, peace. love, respect, human dignity and magnanimity and the like) are concerned. Leaving aside the reality of the existence of some/very few elements of extremism or damaging conservatism, on both sides, it is absolutely safe to say that the two religions have a lot to share than to differ. And this is part of our history of togetherness that makes us proud people of Ethiopia.
O God! O Allah! It is now two decades since “our religious leaders” who claim themselves as YOUR messengers began moving in a wrong direction that is totally against what YOU have stood for and have suffered for. They started muddling in mischievous and dangerous politico-religious games by carrying out “coup d’état” of religious authorities fully sponsored and guided by those groupings who controlled/control the political power.  They did not stop there. They had to keep seeking the help of their “alliances” (ruling elites) in order, if possible to silence, if not, to go after and crash those who strongly dissent from the ugly interplay of religion and politics. Sadly enough, the innocent followers of the two religions have been left and are still left with a very serious state of confusion. This was in addition to a very terrible confusion about the lines or limits between the functions and duties of a political party and the three branches of government (the legislative or the parliament, the judiciary or the court system and the executive or the administration). It is self-evident that in our case a ruling political party is the supreme authority over the three branches of government. There is no doubt that the state of confusion as the result of miserable mix between religion and politics is getting so horrible and extremely dangerous. It is dangerous not only in terms of damaging our togetherness in the short term, but also in terms of degrading or eroding the very essence of the spiritual and moral values of this generation and the generation to come. And this is seriously disturbing when this is being carried out with unreserved collaboration by those whom we call them Spiritual Fathers (Abatoch). When I say this, I am not saying this is the first phenomenon in the history of   the relationship between secular and religious institutions. History, including our own, vividly tells us that it has never been uncommon for the innocent people to go through very

Power Grid consortium bags 21 million contract from Ethiopia

NEW DELHI: State-owned Power Grid Corporation- led consortium has bagged a $ 21 million contract from Ethiopian Electric Power Service Corporation for undertaking its system upgrade.

Power Grid CorporationBSE 1.85 % has bagged this two-year contract in consortium with state-run NHPC and private power distribution company BSES, a top company official told PTI.

He said that the contract is for a period of two years. "We have taken over the management of their hydro station, distribution and transmission for system improvement," the official said.

The company which is targeting a revenue of Rs 200 crore from overseas in this financial year and has already earned Rs 130 crore, the official said.

"We have not invested in overseas markets, either we have taken up consultancy assignments or supplied equipment abroad so the rupee depreciation has not impacted us," the official said.

In another consortium, Power Grid Corporation has set up a joint venture company with the Nepal government, IL&FS and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd for power transmission. The company proposes to invest close to Rs 94 crore for setting up Indo-Nepal transmission corridor.

The company is also supplying power transmission equipment to Myanmar under $ 64 million supply contract.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors earlier this month had approved the FPO (follow-on offer) proposal by raising 15 per cent of the fresh equity of the paid existing paid-up share capital.

The funds raised will be used for expansion plans, including transmitting power to the tune of 75,000 MW by 2017.

Semayawi attacked, beaten up and ransacked

by Abebe Gellaw

In the evening of Saturday August 31, Semayawi Party headquarters around Ginfle, Addis Ababa, was buzzing like a bee hive as nearly one hundred party activists and organizers were busy making posters, writing slogans, stacking flags and other paraphernalia needed for a colorful rally. They were making the final push for a peaceful demonstration they had planned to hold the next morning with their supporters.
These peaceful and law-abiding citizens were doing what true political activists were supposed to do. They wanted to demand justice and freedom. They wanted to petition their rulers to respects the rights of citizens who are being routinely abused, tortured and killed in broad daylight. They only wanted to ask the thuggish TPLF regime to free all prisoners of conscience jailed on trumped-up terrorism and treason charges. They wanted to demand the TPLF to respect its own constitution. They were not preparing to commit acts of terrorism or bank robbery.
Suddenly there was a blackout. Electricity to Semayawi’s headquarters was cut off. Apparently hundreds of heavily armed ‘federal police’ officers had already besieged the office like terrorists.
Yidenekachew Kebede, the party’s legal affairs head and coordinator of the rally was heading to his office. ESAT reached him in good time on his cell phone. He was describing the situation in detail. He was very upset that such a criminality happens with impunity. He was outraged that the TPLF is treating Ethiopians worse than prisoners of war in their own country.
The young lawyer was outraged that the constitution, which the TPLF never respected, was being violated by armed thugs and criminals again. It was another evidence of lawlessness and tyranny that the TPLF has imposed on the people of Ethiopia. Those who were eager to demand freedom and justice for their people became victims of criminality. While he was telling ESAT that his colleagues and friends were under siege, a federal police officer snatched his phone and the line was cut off. Apparently he was detained.
TPLF federal squad broke into the office and ransacked and beat Semayawi’s leaders and members. The party’s chairman Eng. Yilkal Getnet was also arrested and taken to a police station around Gedam Sefer. The thugs reportedly targeted everyone and even savagely attacked and kicked women. They detained all of Semayawi’s operatives found on the party’s premises for hours, kicked and tortured them. Scores of people were even made to roll over mud and dung in a bid to humiliate and degrade them. They were stat at and insulted by TPLF’s thugs.
According to Eng. Yilkal, he was released after a few hours. Other members who were also said to have been roughed up, beaten up and tortured were also freed. But the headquarters has reportedly been trashed. Documents, equipment, and all the materials prepared for the rally were taken away by the federal squad.
Ethiopians in the Diaspora has been expressing outrage on Facebook and Paltalk rooms. What has been the focus of angry discussion is how long the state-sponsored terrorism can go on. The decision to launch an illegal attack against a political party operating legally is another affront to law and order. TPLF’s thuggery and lawlessness has posed serious challenges to every law-abiding citizen. People are abused and tortured without any ground.
Semayawi is a relatively budding political party that should have been accorded protection. But TPLF’s paranoid has reached a critical and dangerous point. The more cornered it is, the more dangerous it is becoming. The attack against Semawi only reveals the level of fear gripping the TPLF and its cronies.
In a press release it issued, Semayawi has vowed to press for justice and rule of law. It emphasized that nothing will distract it from making demands and voicing the concerns of the people of Ethiopia.
In the meantime, Muslim Ethiopians are also being hunted down across the country. TPLF organized a rally in the metropolis on the day and at the venue where Semayawi had planned to stage a protest demonstration. The worst part is that TPLF is trying to create religious conflict among Christians and Muslims. The two religions have co-existed harmoniously for over a millennium. The futile efforts only reveal the fact that TPLF is desperate to survive.
No matter what the TPLF does, the struggle for equality, dignity, justice and freedom continues….